Meter-testing-switch construction.



c. D. PLAN. METER TESTING SWITCH CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4, |916.

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T all whom z't may'concerm CLARENCE D. PLATT, OF BRIDGEPORT,CONNECTICUT.

METER-TESTING-SWITCH CONSTRUCTION.

Specification of Letters Patent. v Patented Sept. 1S, 191'?.

Application filed December 4, 1916. Serial No. 134,856.

Be it known that I, CLARENCE D. PLATT, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica,

residing at Bridgeport, Conn., have invented a new 'and usefulMeterfTestingSwitcli Construction, of which the following is a spec1-iication.

My inventionl relates particularly to what is commonly termed anentranceswitch and a connection by means of which the meter which is normally inthe circuit may be conveniently tested without breaking the circuit. i

Figure 1, is a front view of a switch embodying the improvements of myinvention and showing the meter testing connections in place. Fig. 2, isa side viewand section on the plane of the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. A

Fig. 3, is a rear viewiof the lower part or the switch showing thesockets for the meter testing connections.

Fig. 4, isa detail View of one of the-con "ductor terminals for themeter testing connection.

Fig. 5, shows details of the handpiece for the meter testing connection.

In the particular Jform of switch illus tiated 10 indicates aninsulating base; 11, v11 are the binding p osts or terminals for themain'linevconductors; 12, 12 are the binding ,posts orterminals for thebranch conductors; 13, 13 are switch terminals connectedto the bindingpost'sll, 11 and serving as lsupporting postsior the hinged blades 14,'

14:; 15, 15 are stationary switch jaws for receiving the ends of theswitch-blades; 16, 16

' indicate the,

center fuse plug contacts ,connected to the jaws 1'5, 15 respectively;17, 1'? are screw sockets for the fuse plugs connected respectively 1.2.The switch is opened and .closed .by meansl of-an insulating hand-piece18 which .connects the twoupper ends .ofthe switch .l

blades 14, 14.

, Masili-C sockets co, 2o ma 21 2i 10eme A inthe insulating basebetweenthe'. blades 14,l

14 and below the handle 18'are connected respectively to the switchterminals 13 and 15 by'strip's 22, 22 and 23, 23.

The connection'toythe test .meter is effected'. by means of a Speal'plugand conductors-l c'onsis'ting of a handpiece'25 and terminals 26 and 27having the wires 28 and 29 leadto the binding posts 12,"

ing to the test meter. Each'wire is prefer ably protected by aninsulating-sheath 30. Each terminal such as 26, is preferably split soas to be yielding and elect a friction-tight connection `in one of theswitch sockets. The hand-piece 25 is preferably `i'ormed of two partswith a passage 31 for the terminal 26 and a roove 32 for the collar33.Preferably t e terminal 26 and collar 33 are smaller in size than thepassage 31 and the groove 32 so that the terminal 26 may have a limitedmovement relative to the hand-piece to permit the terminals to litmoreeasily in the sockets l"without binding. The handpiece is also providedwith a recess 34 for the sheath 30 which recess is preferably somewhatsmaller. in diameter than the sheath so that the sheath' can be clampedtightly when the Vscrew 37 is set up. Grooves such as 35 and 36 arepreferably provided tol from the foregoing andthe at the meterconnecting plugs ma be inserted into the switch base sockets be ore. openin the circuit through the switch and wit outdistributing theelectriconnecting. plugs have been inserted in .the basel the switch maybe then-opened so as to throw the current through the' meter for thepurpose of testing. A.Obviously this opening drawings that theconstruccal condition in the branch line. When the of the switch doesnot affect the interior line.`

The advantages of this wi11 be apparent to those'acq'uainted with thisart.. u

' It is obvious, withv this constiuction'that. 'the poles of the switchmay be connected to a meterv in diierentways vwhich is.-iinpor tantasmeters dii'erin'constri'iction. luth-1s construction each pole of theswitch hasa' separate connection which may-be attached to any bindingv.screw of any meter.

I claim:- y .l I A meter testin'gswitch, comprlsing an insulatng base, apair oi'spaced apart switch posts on the insulatingbase, a complementarypair of switchthe base and disposedeach in line -with one of the switchposts, switch blades hinged to the switch posts andarran'ged'each toengage one of theuswit'ch contacts,contact sockets Alosely spaced inpairs alongside each of`- contacts spaced apart on' the switch bladesand said sockets' being disswitch blades and the opening of the switchposed in the space bounded by'thefswitch over the tops of said testingplugs, and 'conblades and sunk in the material of the innecting strapsat the back of the insulating 10 sulating base with their outer plugreceiving base connecting the testing sockets t0 the ends close to theouter face ofthe insulatswitch posts and contacts respectively.

ing base to thereby enable the insertion of testing plugs into suchsockets between the CLARENCE D. PLATT.

